The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-07-09

ANU lie SUMMER OlEul is u winter
Viola knew that life would never be quite
the same to her again as it had been before
her eventful meeting with the noble strang.
ef whose image lived in her heart.
She had begun the little song again, when
the abrupt ringing of the door bell echoed
through the house, sileucing her music and
arohsihg the indolent sleeper
'Goodnessl l believe have actually
been mapping" Miss Markham calculated.
"Did you think needed a watcher, viola9
or how Is Il you haven't gene for the vel
vet the dressmakpr askedP am sure pay
you enough to expect some little service,
without being forever Obliged to remind
you Of what you are to do"
Viola quietly arose, with glance toward
the window, against which the wind was
lashihg the rain in binding sheets.
"Oh, the rainy walk won't batin Youn
Miss Markham said rudelv; "a little hard
ship now and then Is really beneficial to
most people. But before YOU go you must
help me with my hair and dressing. That
was Gerald Wynne who fung; even such
dreadful storm doesn't hinder him In his
attentions to me-
A few minutes later Viola had completed
her task and was dismissed for her stormy
walk, and Evaline Markham, in the splen-
dor of fresh toilet, swept into the draw
ing room to receive her caller.
"tIuw delightful Of you TO come so soon
Though dislike thinking of anybody being
out in such a cruel Storm" she said, in
tones skillfully modulated to express the
greatest amiability toward the world in
general and toward him in particular.
An hour before such amiable sollcitude
would not have failed Of its effect with
Gerald Wynne.
He was lonely man, and one who found
more care than pleasure in the possession
Of his great wealth. He had buried the
bride Of his early youth some years before,
and he had one child--a lovely little boy
who sorely needed the oversight which
only woiuanly tenderness can afford.
Handsome Evaline Markham had attract.
ed him; not as man Is attracted by the
one woman who commands his best and
closest love, but because he fancled she
would ttake an estlmable mother for his
little Vance.
Often he had half resolved to ask her to
be his wife, but always some inexplicable
feeling had checked the words upon his
lips.
Between him and Evallne Markham had
always arisen the vision of lithesome
young figure and lovely young face-a
pale, refined face, framed in softly-banded
chestnut hair, from which looked forth
large. earnest eyes of innocent blue.
''She would have been all the world to
me, If could haye gained her love. That
one day was foretaste of the heaven my
life would have been had not our ways di-
verged. We are never likely TO meet again !;
must forget her; and 1 must give my poor
little Vance mother" he thought, as he
paused on the threshold of EYaline Mark
hams home that rainy day.
As he paused he heard the sound of a
piano, and of a sweet voice lingering over
the lines;
"Alas! how easily things go wrong,-
A sigh too much, or kiss too long;
Aud there comes mist and weeping rain,
And life is never the same again"
And at the sound of the soft voice there
flashed before him another rainy day, with
the haunting vision of lovely face blush
ing Celestial red'' beneath his glances, OF
sweet lips which quivcred at the last fare
well, of dainty hands which trembled in the
parting clasp,
"But l mnst put such fancies from me.
She came into My life only as some bright
star might fash across the skies to vanish
and appear no morel 1 must think of my
boy-my motherless little Vance. And
Evaline, always so amiable, so solicitous
for the comfort of others, is very worthy to
be my wife," he thought as he ring the
bell and finally presented himself before
Miss Markham.
But somehow the words he had come tc
say remained unspoken.
"My little Vance is begging to make youi
} acquaintance" he remarked lightly, as h,
, at length arose to depart.
"The dear little fellow" Miss Markham
} cooed, promptly and effusively. II do Sc
love little child. And feel so sorry fol-
the most Of them, tool--they haye theil
} own small sorrows, which older people are
apt To ignore or fail to understand"
The young man regarded her attentively
for a moment; deep flush mantled hi
noble face; his lips moved, but the ques
J tion he had almost determined 10 ask wal
7 not uttered.
Through the drip and patter Of the silvei
rain outside, through the sudden, signif
cant silence Of the elegant drawing-roou
; he seemed to hear an exquisite voice sing
ing sweetly and low:
"FOr the stars will fade and the sigh will stay
And the summer night is winter day"
But there was triumphant smile upoI
: Evalens Markham's handsome features al
he finally withdrew.
"He Is mlne," she sxulted mentally.
But her pleasant exultation did not pre-
:; vent her wondering what had detained he
q young companion.
"Vlola ought to have been back half al
hour ago, and in that half hour she coul'
{ nearly have mended the tear In my lac
g overdress. If there is anything detest, i
g is the wasting OF time" she grumbled t
o herself some time after the departure o
Mr.. Wynne.
y Almost at the instant the front door wa
e quietly opened and Viola stepped into th
hall.
u But she was not alone. Sheltered frOI
the storm by her own black gossamer wa
f a little child-a fragile atom of boyhOed-
y whose chubby face was wet with lain an